Picture projector



Jan. l2, 1937. J. ERWOQD 2,067,835

PICTURE PROJECTOR v Y original Filed June 24. 19:55

Patented Jan. l2, 1937 UNITED STATES PICTURE PROJECTOR Joseph Erwood,Chicago,

Webster of Illinois lll., assignor to The Company, Chicago, lll., acorporation original application June 24, 193s, sei-iai No.

Divided and this application February 11, 193s. serial No. 63,393 l 14claims. (ci. ss-zs) This invention relates to a projector for picturessuch as are commonly carried on a transparent medium such as a slidefilm. More particularly, the present improvements have to do with meansfor feeding a lm and for framing the picture. The subject matter of thisinvention was rst disclosed in my. application filed June 24, 1935,under Serial No. 28,047 of which this case is a division.

The means for feeding the film and framing the picture, as herein setforth, comprise a shaft together with other associated parts inconcentric relation thereto; a mounting of the shaft and its associatedparts within and upon the forward end of the lantern housing; means atone end of the shaft, exteriorly of the housing, for rotating the shaftthrough a predetermined distance; other meansalso located near the endof the shaft, exteriorly of the housing, for shifting the position ofthe movement arc through which the shaft may be rotated; a coil springhaving one end attached to the mounting for the shaft and the other endto a part which extends radially of the shaft for returning an actuatedelement to its initial position; a support for the shaft byvoppositeside walls of the housing; a spool having spaced end flanges each in theform of a Asprocket wheel for engaging with and feeding the nlm ineither direction; a spacer element between one end of the spool and theproximatewall of the housing by which to iix the longitudinal positionof the shaft therewithin; an operating connection extended to a distantpoint whereby to provide for remote control; and the variousarrangements andlcombinations of parts and elements which cooperatetogether to produce the present mechanism-which is of simple andinexpensive character, readily accessible for adjustment or replacement,and certain and dependable in its operation, all as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

An embodiment of this invention is set forth in the accompanying drawingwherein- Figure i is a view in perspective of a projector lanternequipped .with the present mechanism for feeding the film and framingthe picture;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in tion taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isl a detail in section on line 3 of Fig. 2, the parts beingshown in normal or initial position;

Fig. 4 which is a view similar to Fig. 3 shows the parts moved to finalposition; l

Fig. 5 is a detail in section on line 5 of Fig. 2.; andA vertical sec-Fig. 6 is a detail in section on line 6 of Fig. 2. In Fig. l is shown alantern L comprising a generally rectangular housing with opposite side'walls 6 and front and rear walls 1 to the former of which is hinged vagate 8 which mounts on its front a tubular projection containing part ofthe lens system. As shown, the projector lantern is mounted in itsentirety upon a base support B having depending legs 9 for engagementwith a suitable bracket (not shown) for resting upon a horizontalsurface. Extending upwardly from the forward wall of the lantern is a'thin plate which is curved around to form a generally cylindricalenclosure I with a stop Il at one end, adapted to receive a roll of filmF which is to be fed through the projector. The film, as it unrolls fromits cylindrical mounting, proceeds 'downwardly behind the gate and alongthe front wall of the lantern, between guide blocks oi glass forming, ifdesired. part of the lens system.

In the front lower region of the projector lantern I mount a shaft Swhichextends transversely across the housing through spaced bearingsprovided by openings in opposed side walls of the housing. A spool lhaving end flanges in the form of sprocket wheels I6 is carried fast onthe shaft substantially midway between opposite side walls of thelantern. A spacer Il, here shown as a collar, extends between one end ofthe spool and the proximate side wall of the lantern whereby to preventlongitudinal movement of the shaft in that direction. 'I'he sprocketwheels are joined fast to the spool which, in turn, is connected fast tothe shaft by a set-screw I8 so that rotary movement imparted to the onewill be transmitted to the other. Behind the spool is a bridge plate I9extending transversely of the housing and forwardly of the source oflight.

The shaft end which is proximate to the spacer colian extendsexteriorlyof the housing a sumcient distance to receive an operating wheel andother associated parts. As shown, this wheel comprises two disks X and Yof like diameter, having mountings on the shaft which are fast andloose, respectively. The with a toothed hub aillxed to the shaftadjacent/ its end and extending toward the loose disk Y which carries'anelongated hub 2| which terminates at the outer face of the proximatelantern wall 8. A flange 22 proceeds from one disk toward the other justshort of their peripheral edges and cooperates therewith to form agroove around the wheel. According to this fast disk hub 20 serves as anabutment for the loose disk whose hub end bears against the side of fastdisk X is provided /4 construction theY the wall 8 opposite to thatwhich is engaged by the spacer collar i1, whereby the shaft is fixedagainst longitudinal movement, although free to rotate in its bearingsin response to any rotary force that may be applied.

The fast disk hub 20, as shown, is provided with four ratchet teeth a,b, c and d, spaced 90 degrees apart, and so disposed as to be engageableby a pawl 26 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 21 carried by theloose disk Y. This pawl extends in part through a break in rthe flange22 so as to lie within the peripheral groove of the operating wheel. Atthe pawl end close to the pin is a lug 2B having therethrough anaperture for receiving one encl of a flexible wire or cord 29 whichextends alongthe back of the pawl and then into the peripheral groove ofthe opi eratlng wheel for travel therearound through a desired distance.As shown, the string leaves the wheel at a low point, passing over aguide lug I0 on its way to an 'eye 3l through which it continues on to aremote station. The operator at such a station may, by a pull upon thewire or oord, impart to the operating wheel a rotary force which alsoapplies pressure upon the pawl to direct its free end inwardly towardthe toothed hub for engagement with the proximate tooth a thereof.

In the disk Y at a point just to the outside of the toothed hub is anarcuate slot 35 extending for a distance somewhat greater than the spacebetween two of the teeth on the hub 20, perhaps 120 degrees or so.Through the slot which lies just to the outside of the toothed hub isextended a finger 36 which proceeds laterally from one side.

of a setting lever 31 having a rotative mounting upon the hub 38 of aplate 39 which is fixed to the proximate lantern wall 6. This plate isformed with an arcuate area of radial corrugations 40 at a distance fromthe shaft S in such a position as to be engaged by a rib Il on the lever31 whereby to frictionally hold this lever in a desired position ofrotative adjustment. A spring l2 (see Fig. 5) having one end I hooked tothe hub 2| is coiled around through succeeding convolutions to presentits other end ll, also of hook form as shown, in engaging relation withthe finger 36. Such a spring will occupy but very little space, itsseveral convolutions may all lie in a single plane and in adjacentrelation te the proximate face ofthe disk Y, and its capacity is suchthat it will exert a rotary influence upon the disk tending to return italways to its normal or initial position which is shown in Fig. 3. Dueto the vlength of the spring, it will not be placed under undue tension,even when the disk is rotated through its full distance.

In operation, the film F is so positioned with relation te me sprocketwheel that th teeth or the latter will lie in edge openings oftheformer. A pull on the cord or wire will'cause the operating wheel to berotated against thev tension of the spring l2. In so doing, pressurewill be placed upon the pawl such that it will engage with the firsttooth a to lock the two wheel disks together for rotary motion which isthereupon transmitted to the shaft and spool whereby the sprocket wheelsare turned a corresponding distance. The initial or starting position isdetermined by the adjustment of the setting lever I1 whose finger 3Bextends into the arcuate slot 35 to successively engage opposite endsthereof (see Fig. 3). The operating wheel in lits entirety can rotate nofurther than the length of the slot,

aoemss although the outer or fast disk thereof may separately be turnedeither way as far as desired. The relationship between the two wheeldisks and the shaft whereon they are mounted is this: The shaft mayrotate, either way, independently of the disk Y when actuated bytheouter or fast disk X, but the loose disk Y, operating through the pawlmechanism, may rotate the shaft in one direction only.l It is primarilythe loose disk Y, plus the pawl mechanism, that constitutes theoperating means for the feeding shaft, effective to produce a one-wayrotation only.

. The conclusion of the operating stroke is reached when the fingerengages the opposite end of the arcuate slot. According to the 90`degrees spacing of the ratchet teeth here shown, the rotary movement ofthe toothed hub and shaft S will be exactly 90 degrees. In thisoperation the disk Y will be rotated somewhat farther due to extratravel that is required to bring the pawl into engagement with the firsttooth. It is important to note that the pawl is held in a position ofdisengagement relative to the toothed hub, during the first stage of itsmovement. This is due to interference from the finger 3i always providedat the commencement of operation, regardless of the rotative position ofthe framing lever. Gravity is, therefore, not a factor in the operationof the pawl whose disengaging and engaging positions are determined bypositive forces, i. e., the finger and the' pull cord or wire. Uponrelease of the operating cord, the loos`e disk Y will be returned to itsinitial position by the spring 42, leaving the toothed hub advanced forthe full distance through which it has been turned. So that the feedingspool may remain in its farthest advanced position, I aflix to theinside of the housing a spring arm in engagement with one end of thespool to serve as a brake therefor.

For control of the framing of the picture, the lever 31 may be shiftedin either direction. The effect of this is simply to shift the linger 3Sto another position where the starting and stopping points foroscillations of the disk are changed. The range of movement remains thesame, no matter what may be the adjustment of the passing lever. Byapplying to the disk X alone a rotary force, the spool shaft may beturned in either direction to frame the picture properlyI and this maybe followed, if desired, by a. further adjustment of the setting levertomaintain the succeeding pictures in such. framed adjustment.

The presentmeohanism is simple and inexpensive in the extreme. It iseasily operated and adjusted, and dependable at all times. The assemblyof its various elements may be expe- ,the proximate shaft bearingby thehub 3l which is extended from the plate I9 to receive the loose disk hub2|.

I claim:

1. In a flim projector having a suitable film gate, a nlm feedingmechanism in which is comprised a rotatable shaft, a pawl mechanism, anoscillatable operating device having a mounting concentric with theshaft and connected with the pawl mechanism, means limiting themovements of the operating device and pawl mechanism to rotate the shafta` desired distance only, and film framing means including the filmsprocket having a mounting concentric with the shaft and operableindependently of the operating device to rotate the shaft either way toa new-rotative position with respect to the pawl mechanism.

2. In a film projector having a suitable film gate, the combination of alight transmitting housing with opposed walls, a shaft extended acrossthe housing and through the opposed walls whereby it is rotatablysupported, a film feeding spool on the shaft within the housing, a shaftoperating device mounted to oscillate concentrically therewith, a pawldriving connection exteriorly of the housing between the operatingdevice and shaft, and film framing means having a mounting concentricwith the shaft and connected to the spool, said means being operableindependently of the operating device to rotate the shaft and spooleither way to a new rotative position with respect to the pawlmechanism. t

3. In a film projector having a suitable film gate and a film feedingsprocket to advance the film through the gate, the combination of arotatable feeding shaft having operative connection with the sprocket,manually actuated operating means for the shaft mounted concentricallyabout one end thereof for oscillatorya movement, a connection betweenthe operating means and the shaft such that the latter may rotateindependently of the former and that the former may rotate the latter inone direction only, a stop for limiting the oscillatory movement of saidoperating means, and means for adjusting said stop to differentconcentric rotative positions about the feed shaft to correspondtorelative shifted positions of the feed shaft, whereby the properframing of successive pictures is obtained.

4. Mechanism for feeding and framing a film comprising a shaft, amounting in which the shaft may be rotated, a feeding spool carried faston the shaft, a disk having a hub secured fast to one end of the shaft,a second disk having a flange in spaced relation to the hub looselymounted on the shaft, a pawl pivotally mounted on the loose disk adaptedto engage a tooth on the hub of the fast disk, a spring connecting theloose disk with the mounting adapted to urge the disk'to an initialposition, there being an arcuate slot in the disk last named, a leverhaving a pivotal mounting adjacent the loose disk provided witiranelement extending into the arcuate slot to engage with opposite endsthereof whereby to limit its range of movement, and means for securingthe lever in an adjusted position.

5. Mechanism forl feeding and framing Aa film comprising a'feedingwheel, a shaft on which the wheel is flxedly mounted, a mounting inwhich the shaft is rotatably carried, a two-disk wheel at one end of theshaft, one disk being fixed to' 'the shaft and the other being freelyrotatable thereon, the two disks being in spaced relation, a flangeextending from one disk to the other near the peripheries thereofwhereby to form a peripheral groove, co-operating elements on the twodisks forming a one-way driving connection therebetween such that rotarymovement im` parted to one will transmit a corresponding oneway movementto the other, means limiting the range of movement of the wheel diskwhich is free on the shaft, and means for shifting the position of saidlimiting means.

A the perforations in the film to advance the film through the gate, aspring retracted operating device for the sprocket,lmeans mounting saiddevice for oscillatory movement about the axis lof said sprocket,onewayinterconnecting means between said operating device and sprocket, a stopfor limiting the oscillatory movement of said operating device, and filmframing means extending axially through said sprocket and operatingdevice and operable independently of said interconnecting means torotate said sprocket in either direction.

7. In a film projector having a suitable film gate, av film feedingsprocket adapted to engage the perforations in the film to advance thefilm through the gate, a spring retracted operating device for thesprocket, means mounting said device for oscillatory movement about theaxis of said sprocket, one-way interconnecting means between saidoperating device and sprocket, a stop for limiting the oscillatorymovement of said operating device, a shaft extending axially throughsaid operating device and positively connected to said sprocket forrotation therewith, and a hand wheel on said shaft outwardly of saidoperating device for rotating said shaft and sprocket in eitherdirection independently of said interconnecting means.

. 8. In a film projector having a suitable film gate, a film feedingsprocket adapted to engage the perforations in the film to advance thefilm through the gate, a spring retracted, operating device mounted foroscillatory movement about the axis of said sprocket, a pawl carried bysaid operating device, a ratchet wheel operatively connected to saidsprocket in operative association with said pawl, a stop for limitingthe oscillatory movement of said operating device, a hand wheel operatedshaft extending axially through said operating device and ratchet'wheeland connected to said sprocket for rotation therewith independently ofsaid operating means.

9. In a film projector having a suitable film gate, a film feedingsprocket adapted to engage the perforations in the film to advance thefilm through the gate, a spring retracted operating device mounted foroscillatory movement about the axis of said sprocket, a ratchet wheeloperatively connected to said sprocket, a pawl carried by said operatingdevice, means for positively moving said pawl into driving engagementwith said ratchet wheel upon operation of said -the perforations in thefilm to advance the film through the gate, a spring retracted operatingdevice mounted for oscillatory movement about the axis of said sprocket,means providing a one-way driving connection between said operatingdevice and sprocket including a ratchet wheel, a hand wheel operatedshaft extending axially through said operating device and ratchet wheeland connected to said sprocket for rotation therewith, and meansoperable to disconnect said driving connection for free rotation of saidsprocket in either direction by said hand wheel operated shaft.

11. In a film slide projector having a rotatably mounted film feedingsprocket, a ratchet disk fixed to said sprocket. a one-way manuallyactuated operating device for said sprocket mounted for oscillatorymovement through a predetermined range about the axis of said disk, aplvoted pawl carried by said operating device for engagement with saiddisk, and stop means for shifting the operating range of said operatingdevice and pawl about the axis of the disk to correspond to relativeshifted positions oi' the sprocket, whereby the proper framing ofsuccessive pictures is obtained.

12. In a nim slide projector, a feeding mechanism comprising a rotatablefilm feeding shaft,

a manually actuated oscillatable operating device associated with theshaft, pawl mechanism forming a` one-way driving connection between thedevice and shaft. and means associated with said device and'pawlmechanism to limit oscillations thereof within a iixed range, said meansbeing adjustable to different rotative positions relative to the shaftto correspond to relative shifted positions of the shaft, whereby theproper framing of successive pictures is obtained.

1.3. In a film projector having a suitable film gate, a manuallyactuated nlm feeding sprocket adapted to engage the perforations in thenlm to advance the film through the gate, a spring retracted operatingdevice for the sprocket. means mounting said device for oscillatorymovement about the axis of said sprocket, oneway interconnecting meansbetween said operating device and sprocket, film framing means extendingaxially through said sprocket and op erating device and operableindependently of said interconnecting means to rotate said sprocket ineither direction, and means associated with the operating device tolimit oscillations thereof within a fixed range, said means beingadjustable to different rotative positions relative to the axis of the'sprocket to correspond to relative shifted positions of the sprocket,whereby the proper framing of successive pictures is obtained.

14. A film slide projector having a manually actuated rotatably mountedfilm feeding sprocket driving shaft, a ratchet disk fixed to said shaft,a one-way pawl operating device for said ratchet disk lmounted foroscillatory movement through a fixed range about the axis of said disk,and means for adjusting the fixed range of movement of the operatingdevice to difierent rotative positions relative to the axis of the diskto correspond to relative shifted positions 'of the sprocket and disk,whereby proper framing of successive pictures is obtained.

JOSEPH ERWOOD.

